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Acer CEO wants a rethink by Microsoft: FT

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A man's hand is seen on an Acer logo as he pastes a poster below at a computer mart in Taipei April 23, 2008. REUTERS/Nicky Loh

A man's hand is seen on an Acer logo as he pastes a poster below at a computer mart in Taipei April 23, 2008.

Credit: Reuters/Nicky Loh

LONDON | Mon Aug 6, 2012 7:46pm EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Taiwanese computer maker Acer has urged Microsoft Corp to reconsider its planned venture into the tablet market, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Acer Chairman and Chief Executive J.T. Wang, said Microsoft's plans to launch its own "Surface" tablet in October would be "negative for the worldwide ecosystem" in computing.

Microsoft's "Surface" tablet would enter the market in direct competition with Acer's "Iconia" or Hewlett-Packard Co's "TouchPad" tablets.

"We have said think it over. Think twice. It will create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction. It is not something you are good at so please think twice," Wang is quoted as saying.

For the past two decades, Microsoft and personal computer makers have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship.

Campbell Kan, Acer's president for personal computer global operations, said the company was debating internally how to respond to the Surface.

"If Microsoft is going to do hardware business, what should we do? Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find other alternatives?," he is quoted as saying.

(Reporting by Stephen Mangan; Editing by Richard Chang)
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Comments (5)
majkmushrm wrote:
Enjoyed a symbiotic relationship my posterior. For the first 10 years, until they were convicted of being a monopoly, they were strong arming the hardware makers.

Aug 06, 2012 9:01pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
StigTW wrote:
The rethink needs to happen at Acer. Step Up Acer the bar has been raised!

Aug 06, 2012 10:59pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Bunker555 wrote:
It’s great that a hardware manufacturer had the guts to call out Microsoft on this crazy decision to enter the tablet segment. Microsoft wants to be Google and Apple rolled into one, but this foray is bound to fail. Very doubtful that other HW manufacturers can support this selfish decision and they can always go the more robust Android route, where there’s more room for differentiation

Aug 06, 2012 11:45pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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